Nourlangie Rock

Kakadu National Park NT

Kakadu is an exceptional 1 307 300 ha World Heritage park about 240 km east of Darwin. It includes Jabiru, Nourlangie Rock (pictured), Ubrirr, Jim Jim Falls, TwinFalls, Yellow Waters, South Alligator River and Waterfall Creek Nature Park. Kakadu features a great deal of flat savanna woodland rather than tropical rainforest, rivers, billabongs and mangroves. With over 60 mammal and marsupial species, many reptiles and one-third of Australia’s birdlife, it is also rich in natural and Aboriginal history and art (including rock carvings and cave paintings). 6 000 sq km was originally set aside to establish the park in 1979 and today has grown to 19 804  sq km. Kakadu is divided into 5 natural sub-regions: plateau, lowlands, floodplain, tidal flats and southern hills. Due to flooding and impassable roads during the wet season, the end of the dry season is probably the ideal time to visit.

Visitor Information Centre: 6 Tasman Plaza, Jabiru. Tel (08) 8979 2548.

Arnhem Land NT

Arnhem Land is a 97 000 sq km region occupying the north eastern corner of the NT. Controlled by the Northern Land Council and inhabited by local Aborigines, the area extends from Port Roper on the Gulf of Carpentaria to the East Alligator River where it meets Kakadu NP. It was named after an early explorer’s Dutch ship, the Arnhem. The local Kooris have lived here for the last 25 000 years and mostly close to the coast where  fish and seafood are abundant. Many Aboriginal artifacts and excellent rock art can be found here. Arnhem Land became an indigenous reserve in 1931 with a number of mission stations scattered throughout the area. Uranium has been mined here since 1979 however being private property, authorization must be obtained together with a good reason to visit (beyond tourism) before entering the area.